Device for calling cabs, porters, and the like by telephone.



A; HINZPETER. DEVICE POR CALLING CABS, PORTERS, AND THE LIKE BY TELEPHONE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.12, 1912. 1,@8401 2 Patented Jan. 13, 19414.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. HINZPETBR. 11m/10E F011 GALLING 0111s, Pon'rns, A1111 T111: 1.1111: BY TELEPHONE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 12, 1912.

1,84m2- Y 1.1111111611 Jan. 13, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l A. HINZPETER. DEVICE PGR CALLING CABS, PORTBRS, AND THB LIKE BY TELEPHONE. APPLIOATION FILED AUG.12, 1912.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3y UNITED STATESr PATENT OFFICE` ALFRED HINZPETER, OF MUNICH, GERMANY.

DEVICE FOR CALLING CBS, PORTERS. AND THE LIKE BY TELEPHONE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

Application led August 12, 1912. Serial No. 714,663.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED IIINZPETER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and residing at Munich, Bavaria, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Calling Cabs, Porters, and the like by Telephone, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

The object proper of, my invention is to call away such a vehicle or person from the place Where it or he has its or his usual daily stand, or from the nearest of such stands respectively, and I attain this object, generally, by providing at or near such stand or 'stands call signals or call apparatus, preferably telephone stations, which are connected with the telephone exchange otiice and registered under a special mark in the telephone book, said signals or apparatus or stations being so constructed, that they are automaticallylocked for a certain time when a call has been made, and they.` remain locked until that call has been responded to, that is to say at the longest until the expiration of that certain time, after which the general connection with the line is again established. This gencralidea may be carried into practice in a variety of ways and with the eniployn'lcnt ot apparatus ot' dit ferent constructions. There may be used, for instance, telephone apparatus of a kind in which, after a call has been made` onlv one reply can be `given, and such apparatus may be ot the coin-treed type. there be ing, however, the dil-terence with respect to other coin-freed apparatus that the contriw ance operated by the coin does not establish the connection for calling but that Yfor re- I plying. The apparatus may also be provided with a means indicating to caller after some time that no one is` present at the stand who can answer. A\rrangements ot such a kind are suited particularly for places or stands with much tratiic. where the' apparatus is `used exclusively :tor callingr cabs or porters and the like, and no other persons .want to use the telephone apparatus for their private conversations. At places, however, where such is the case, as at places with but small demand for cabs, etc.. I intend to make use ot' a coin-freed apparatus having two slots, of which one is intended for the person replying to a call and the other for a person wishing; to employ the apparatus for a convet-sation, one oi? thotwo slots being temporarily automatically locked from theother when a coin is dropped into the latter.

the other hand, instead of combining two apparatus Into one, two distinct apparatus `may be used cooperating in the manner just time, as already explained.

The Figures 1 5 show two forms of construction of the kind in which but one coinfreed device is provided, these apparatus being intended merely for calling cabs, etc., that is to say, they are not intended also for general use. viz: general conversational purposes; and their construction is such that the caller is automatically informed after a certain time whether or not a cab or porter is present. There is this difference between the two forms 'of construction in question that Iin the first case all the essential parts, fi. e. those for the general purpose of the telephone apparatus and those for the special purpose of thc new arrangement and combination ot' parts, are combined in the casing ot' a normal telephone apparatus, whereas in the other case the telephone apparatus is inclosed in a common casing with the novel parts, as is all more fully described hereinafter. The third form of construction shown in Figs. (3 8 concerns an apparatus, in which an existing coin-freed telephone apparatus is combined with a special apparatus for calling cabs, etc., as it forms the subject. matter of this invention.

ln order to make in v invention more clear, I now refer more particularly to the before mentioned drawings, in which similar letters denote similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the first form ot construction. Fig. Q shows various details which are t'ully described in the detailed description. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the second form of construction, the plane of the section being in an angle. ot ninety (90) degrees with respect to the plane of the section of Fig. l. Fig.

Cn l l is a section taken at right angles to Fig,

view of the third form of construction; Fig.

7 is a vertical section through the same; and Fig. 8 shows a number of detail arts, which are all'fully described hereinafter.

The apparatus shown' in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a bell or lamp 1, receiver 2, microphone 3, circuit closing and time signal clock 4, magnetic locking device 5, 6, acting on said clock. time signal bell 7, coin chute 8. the requisite switch mechanism, and

if necessary illuminating apparatus 9. The hook-switch 10 acts only after a conversation. when the receiver 2 is hungi up, `and thereby connects the microphone circuit to the magnet circuit of the apparatus 4,.and the circuit of the illuminating apparatus to the signal circuit. The reversal of these connections is eifected by swinging the spindle 11, on which there is a handle 13 outside the casing l2. and a ratchet wheel 1`4` inside the casing. The latter acts at each quarter revolution on a switch lever 15, which moves over the respective contacts 16, 17, 18, 19. In order that the return movenient is dependent on hanging up the receiver the switch 10 is connected Vto a rod 20 which automaticallyv engages a pin` 22 on the lever 15 when the receiver is hung up, and moves the lever back. The rod 20 is guided by a pin 90 and a spring 91, so that after moving the switch lever it recedes from the pin 22 before the hook-switch has completed its downward movement. The switch 10' consequently does not influence the switch 15 when the receiver is taken down, and this arrangement also makes it possible to actuate the switch lever from the spindle 11 before or after taking down the receiver. In order that the movenient of the' lever 15 can only take place after insertion of a coin, the spindle 11 carries a ratchet wheel 23 coacting with a double armed locking lever 24 which has a tooth 25, and the end 26 of which extends into the coin chute S, so that an inserted coin 27 acts on the locking lever and releases the spindle. I

The coin aperture is normally closed by a bell crank 29, which is moved to free the aperture when a call is signaled, the movement being controlled by means of a lever 30 connected to the clock 4. The lever 3() has a nose 31 resting on the bell crank 29, and a hook 32 engaged with a. pin 33 on the clock 4. lhe latter comprises a spring motor 34 (Fig. 2) which actuates a spindle 3.5,and a contact disk 36 which is provided wil h a weight 4T and is loose on the spindle l l t 33 and can be engaged with the said spinille by gears 3T. 3S. 39, 40. Rotation of the lever 5, which is adapted to engage notches 50, of which there are two. rlhe gear wheel 37 is fixed to the disk, and the gear wheel 40 is fixed to the spindle 35. The wheels 38 and 39 are fixed to a spindle 41 supported by arms 42 which project from a shaft 43, the latter being connected by a link 44 to a rod 45. A cam 46 ix'ed'to the spindlell normally holds the rod 45 raised, whereby the Wheels 38, 39 are engaged with the wheels 37, 40. On rotation of the spindle 11, consequent upon movement of the switch lever 15, the rod 45 is lowered until again lifted by the next ridge of the cam. Vhile the rod is lowered the wheels 38, 39 are disengaged, so that the disk is uncoupled from the clock and can move independently. At the same time the clockwork is locked by a lever 48, which projects from the shaft 43, but extends around the opposite side of the disk. A tooth 49 on this lever engages the wheel `40. When the disk 36 has been disengaged from the lever n, as will be described hereinafter, and-has also been dislconnected contact rings 51,v in contact with springs or brushes 52. The outer ring has two gaps 53, diametrically opposite each other, or is at these parts covered with insulating material. The brushes 52 are in a local circuit containing the signal bell or lamp, so that when Contact is made at 18, current flows from a generator 54 through the lamp and brushes when the disk 36 rotates and removes one of the gaps 53 from the brush 52 lying thereon. lThis current continues While the disk is making half a revolution. Another local `circuit from the generator includes contact 19 and lamp 9, a switch 55 being provided to render it inoperative when not required. as in the day time. The purpose of the lamp 9 is to enable the person at the receiver to write down a message. The signaling circuit a; from the exchange, enters at 56, passes over 16 to the magnet 6, and then passes out, as indicated at y. The talking circuit is traced from m over contact 17 to the receiver 2 and microphone 3, and thence to y. A third circuit, for microphonically transmitting the signal, is traced from m over a normally open Contact 5T and over a. normally closed contact S7. 3S to the microphone 3, and thence to y. One part of the contact disk is normally prevented by the contact device 87, 88 rests on one of the arms 42, or on the arm 48, so that the contact is broken when the'contact disk 36 is disconnected from the clockwork. It nobody answersthe call, a mechanically or electriv cally actuated bell 7 transmits a signal through the microphone to the callerafter a certain period. For this purpose the contact 57 in the last mentioned circuit is closed by one ofthe pins 33, and at the same time the bell is struck. The bell may be mounted on an elastic arm 58, and be vibrated by arms 59 connected tothe disk 36.

The action of the apparatus is as follows: The call signal current energize-s magnet 6 and releases lever 5. The clockwork 34 then rotates the disk 36, whereby the coin chute is opened, and the local circuit of lamp 1 is closed by the springs .S2-while the disk 36 is making halt a revolution. The lamp indicates to the waitin cabman or messenger that acall has been given. He inserts a coin, whereby the spindle 11 is released for onequarter revolution. The receiver is then taken down, and spindle 11 is rotated, whereupon the message can be received, the switch lever 15 having been actuated by the spindle 11 to break the call signal circuitand connectvto the microphone circuit. Be fore completion of the quarter revolutioni of the spindle 11 the disk'36 is disconnected from the clockwork, and the latter vis stopped,'the weight 47 causing the disk to complete' its half revolution, whereupon it is locked aga-in by the lever Prior to this contact is temporarily made at 57, by one of thepins 33, wiping the longer contact spring 56, but this has no elTect in this case, contact being broken at 87, 88 bythe movement of the arms 42 and 48 in releasing tlie= disk locking `the clock. Contact at87, 88 is not re-made until at complet-ion of thequa'rter revolution of the spindle 1.1 the cam 46 again couples the contact disk 36 with the .clockwork 34 and the latter is released from the lever 48. When this takes place the coin chute is again closed, so that all the parte 'except the lever-115, are ready for the next call. The lever. 15 is restored to normal position by the act of hanging up the re'- ceiver. i

In order to furnish a receipt tor the coin, a paper reel 60 Vis provided, from which a strip of paper is fed outward by` rollers 6l, 62 when the handle 13 is turned. Theroller 61 is fixed l tothe spindle 11 and has tour (4) abutments 63, whereby, on completion ot a quarter revolution, a cutter isactuated, to cut a receipt ticket from the paper strip. The cutter, comprises a knife 65 arranged 'on or between two arms 66, 6.7which 'are pivoted .at 64 and lie in the path ot the abut- Y ments 63.

If the call remains unanswered, the con-` tact -disk 36 completes its halt' revolution under the influence of the clockwork.

Shortly before the end of this halt revolutiony, contact is broken at. 56 by one of the pins 38, and closed at 57. inasmuch ascentact is in this case xnot broken at 87,88, the microphone circuit is closed for transmitting the signal, as described.

I n the construction shown in Figs. 3 to 5 an ordinary telephone,instrument 68, with its casing, is placed in a casing 69, whereof the door 70, which is in the torni of a box, normally prevents access to the instrument, but can he opened by means of a key after insertion of a coin. The door islocked by means of a bolt 71 engaged with a pin 86. and by an auxiliary bolt 74. The bolt 71 has a lug 72, which covers the coin aper tures, and connectible to a switch lever '73,by which electricconnection can be transferred from the call signal circuit to the night lamp circuit. 'llransterence ot the electric connection from the call signal circuit to the ta 'king circuit is effected in known manner by the hoolcswitch 10, after removal ot the receiver. The bolt 74 is normally locked 75 in the bolt 74 `by the coin so that the bolt y74 can be retracted by means of a key. In

the course of its retraction the bolt 74 moves the lever 24 and is again lockedby the same, at the end of its movement, the lever 24 being restoredl to its normal position b v an abutment 76, so that` it engages a notch 77 in the bolt and is held therein by a bolt 78 which, when the door opened, is .pushed over the lever 24 by a sl'iring 79.` Vhen the door is closed again an abutment 80 (Fig. 5) pushes the bolt 78 back.

For giving receipts, there a paper reel 60, with feed rollers 6l, 62 and a `cutter 65, 65 actuated by abutment-s 63 on the roller 61. The latter is actuated by a ratchet wheel 8l, operated b v a ratchet 83 which is pivoted at 82 to ,the bolt 74 and is actuated when the door is unlocked.

All the parts so far described, except the switch lever 15 and the lcontacts 18 and 19 for the call circuit and the night lamp respectively, are inside thebox-like door 70.

`Above the same the casing 69 contains the `meshing and unlneshing of the gears 38, 39A

and the actuation of the escapement 48, 49, are not performed by a cam but-.by the movement ofthe door 70, the` lever arm 44 fixed to the shaft 43 resting lon the inner top edge `of-'the door. The clock also diii'ers 4from that previously described, in that,rfor thc `purpose its of giving the no answer signal, it does not temporarily close a microphone circuit Which is independent of the receiver switch, but actuates the receiver switch for closing the microphone circuit, When the no answer signal is given. For this purpose the-contact disk 36 has two arms 84, each adapted to engage a rod S5 connected to the receiver switch 10, so that the latter is lifted before completion of half a revolution of the disk 36 under the iniiuence of the clock. The bell 7 is in this case preferably so arranged that it is actuated by one of the arms 84 shortly after the latter begins to lift the sivitch 10, said arms having oset portions whose path of revolution causes them to contact with the bell, the actuation of the bell ceasing before the arm releases the switch 10.

In regard tothe circuits it needonly be mentioned that the electromagnet 6 must be in the call circuit of the telephone 68. For the signaling lamp and the night lamp there are circuits similar to those previously described, as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4

The door is opened by inserting a key S9', and givingv it half a turn, whereby the bolt 71 is retracted and enables a coin to be inserted, so that thebolt 474 is released and can be retracted by completing the revolus tion of the key. ln locking the door, the key shoots first the bolt 74 and then the bolt 71.

Referring now to the form of construction represented in Figs. 6 and 7, in Which an existing coin-freed telephone apparatus is combined with a special apparatus for calling cabs, porters, and the like, there is a slot 92 to be usedffor calling the exchange oiice in order to establish a connection for a. conversation, and aslot 93 to be used When replying to a call Afor a cab and the like. Each of the slots is provided with a plate indicating the special object of each of them.

Behind each slot is one leg of a forked chute 94, which terminates in known manner above a switch lever 95 and a relay armature" 96, by means of which the coin is reconducted to the outside by aid of a chute 97 if it has not been possible to establish a connection, and consequently a currentof a certain strength has been made to pass through the relays, either from the exchange office or by the person calling. Behind the two slots is a forked locking lever 99, one of the legs of which closes either the slot 92 or the slot 93. This lever is actuated, when a call is made, by means of an electromagnet inserted into the call signal line. For this purpose the .forked lever has an upwardly extending middle arm 10Q, which can be moved by a lever 101 positively connected with the axle 102 of the locking lever 5 holding the armature of the electromagnet 6 so that the lever 1'01 can change the position of the lever 99 simultaneously with releasing the timemovement if the armature in question is attracted When a subscriber calls. The general slot 92 is then locked, for instance by the left hand leg of the lever 99, and the special slot 93, which Wasclosed up to then is now freed from the other leg of that lever. The latter remains in this position until the locking-lever 5 has entered the next notch 50 of the time-movement 4, or of the contact disk 36 respectively, that is to say, after the timemovement has made one half rotation. The locking lever may then return to its former position either under its ovvn'iveight or by the laid of a counterpoise or spring. The locking lever 99 may have plates 103 with inscriptions indicating that this or that slot is closed, appearing behind a cut-out, windoW 104 or the like.

The other parts and arrangements of the device, such as for artificial illumination for the evening and night hours, delivering a. receipt, a permanent signal, an end signal, if the call has not been responded to, and the like, are vthe same as in Figs. 1 and 2, but said parts and arrangements may be replaced, if desired, by other, equivalent ones. For instance in the form ofy construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7,the signal lamp 1 of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1-5 is replaced by a double bell 105 of known construction. This bell is inserted into the local circuit containing the source of energy 54, the contact spring 52 of the clock 4, and theA contact pieces 18. The night lamp is put into another local circuit also fed from the source of electricity 54, this circuit containing the contact pieces 19 and the cut-out 55 The clock or time-movement is practically the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and it may also be actuated by hand by the mediation of a cam disk 46; furthermore, the means for delivering a receipt, in connection with those vfor separating it from the strip. are practically the same.

106 is a coin catching chute, into which the coin dropped into a slot is guided by the change-over lever 95 and by which that coin is conductedy to a` collecting receptacle 107 when the telephone connection desired has been established. i

The hook switch 10 acts by the same means in the-same manner,l e. yit switches over the microphone circuit to the magnet wire of the locking device for the time signal clock, and the illumination circuit tothe signal line, provided the telephone has again been put back on the hook afterf a conversation. Changing over in the reversedirection is-eifected in this form of construction by the thrown in coin 27 Which'drops upon the switch lever 95 and changs its position from that shown iii-dotted lines to thatfin dicated in full ones.

108 and 109 are two plates attached to the casing at the slots 92 and 93 and bearing inmagnet being aiiixcd to a lever scriptions relative to the particular` purposes ot these slots. The leftI hand plate, for instance, may bear the Words Public telephone 5 cents and the right hand plate may bear the words: Cab call for cabmen only."

- Fig. S shows diagrannnatically the most isimple way of employing an existing coinlrced telephone apparatus for calling cabs and the like. There is again an electromagnct (5 in the bell circuit, the armature of that To 'the axle 102 ot' this lever is secured a lever 101, which ordinarily keeps open a flap or drop disk 110. which is released as soon as upon a call being made the current excites the inagnet causing it to attract its armature. The drop disk then becomes visible behind the slot 111 indicating thus that the apparatus is just being required to order a cab or the like. There may lic special conspicuous in- .sf'riptions intended chiefly for outsiders, to prevent their lusing the apparatus in a wrong manner. lVhen a cab driver is at the stand, he goes to the apparatus turns the drop disk into its position of rest, drops a coin into the slot.. and can now answer the call, hearing where he is desired tov come. Other persons having nothing to do with cabs, ctc., but wishing to use the apparatus for a conversation, must wait, say 1 or 2 minutes before they are allowed to replace thc tiap; the expiration of that time may be indicated b v the exchange ottico through a special signal.

The arrangement o the tlap is preferably such that its extent ot movement in both directions is limited to the indispensably requisite measure, and that on `throwing the fiap back it is automatically locked by the .lever '101, which has already returned to its former position.v

What l claim as new and desire tol secure by lLetters Patent is'.

1. In an apparatus for calling cabs, porters, and the like by telephone, the combination with a telephone apliaratus, of time controlled means for closing said apparatus against other calls after a call has been made, and means for terminating said closing action, for the purpose as described.

Q. In an apparatus 'for calling cabs, porters, and the like by telephone, the combination with a telephone apparatus including` a local station, an exchange oilice and a eonnection between said exchange oilice and local station including a signaling circuit, ot' an electromagnet inserted into the signaling circuit, time control means adapted to be actuated by said electromagnet and to cut out the apparatus from other calls after a Copies of this patent may be obtained for call has been made, and means for inter rupting said cutting out action, for the pui pose as described.

3". In an apparatus for calling cabs, p0rters and the like by telephone, the combination with a telephone apparatus including a local station, an exchange otlice and a connectionbetween said exchange otiice and local station including a signaling circuit, of an elcctromagnet connected to the signaling circuit, an armature for said electromagnet, time control means adapted to cut out thc apparatusA irom other calls after a call has been madx and adapted to be operated by said armature, and means for releasing the cutting out parts, for the purpose as described.

l. I'n an appa atus for calling cabs, poricrsr and the like by telephone, the coinbination with a telephone apparatus, an exchange ofiicc. conversation and signaling circuits connecting the telephone and exchange ol'lice, oi an electroinagnct inserted into the signaling circuit, a clock work adapted to be released 'b v said electromagnet, a circuit closed by said clock work, a signal adapted to be actuated by this circuit, and means for breaking this circuit automatically, for the purpose as described.

ln an apparatus tor calling cabs, porters and the like by telephone, the combination with a telephone apparatus, an exchange ottica, conversation and signaling circuits connecting the telephone and exchange oiiice, of an electromagnet inserted into the signaling circuit, a wheel work adapted to be released by said electromagnet, a circuit adapted to be closed by said wheel work, a signaling device situated in said circuit, and means for interrupting this circuit after a predetermined time, for the'purpose as described.

(i. ln an apparatus lor calling cabs, porters, and the like by telephone, the combination with a telephone apparatus, an exchange oiiice, conversation and signaling circuits connecting the telephone and exchange oiiice, ot an electromagnet inserted into the signaling circuit. a wheel work adapted to be released by said electromagnet, a` signaling device adapted to be connected by said wheel work with the conversation circuit of the calling subscriber, and means for stopping the said wheel work after a predetermined period, for the purpose as described.

ln testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALFRED HINZPETER.

Witnesses RICHARD LEMP, CHARLES KUNEN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

